Christian apologist, born at Flavia Neapolis, about A.D. 100, converted to Christianity about A.D. 130, taught and defended the Christian religion in Asia Minor and at Rome, where he suffered martyrdom about the year 165. Two "Apologies" bearing his name and his "Dialogue with the Jew Tryphon" have come down to us. Leo XIII had a Mass and an Office composed in his honour and set his feast for 14 April.

These three men said no more to Job, because he was convinced of his innocence. But another man was infuriated – Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram. He fumed with rage against Job for thinking that he was right and God was wrong; and he was equally angry with the three friends for giving up the argument and thus admitting that God could be unjust. While they were speaking, Elihu had held himself back, because they were older than he was; but when he saw that the three men had not another word to say in answer, his anger burst out.

Thus Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite spoke next. He said:

I am still young,

and you are old,

so I was shy, afraid,

to tell you what I know.

Now, Job, be kind enough to listen to my words,

and attend to all I have to say.

Now as I open my mouth,

and my tongue shapes words against my palate,

my heart shall utter sayings full of wisdom,

and my lips speak the honest truth.

Refute me, if you can.

Prepare your ground to oppose me.

See, I am your fellow man, not a god;

like you, I was fashioned out of clay.

God’s breath it was that made me,

the breathing of Shaddai that gave me life.

Thus, no fear of me need disturb you,

my hand will not lie heavy over you.

How could you say in my hearing –

for the sound of your words did not escape me –

‘I am clean, and sinless,

I am pure, free of all fault.

Yet he is inventing grievances against me,

and imagining me his enemy.

He puts me in the stocks,

he watches my every step’?

In saying so, I tell you, you are wrong:

God does not fit man’s measure.

Why do you rail at him

for not replying to you, word for word?

God speaks first in one way,

and then in another, but no one notices.

He speaks by dreams, and visions that come in the night,

when slumber comes on mankind,

and men are all asleep in bed.

Then it is he whispers in the ear of man,

or may frighten him with fearful sights,

to turn him away from evil-doing,

and make an end of his pride;

to save his soul from the pit

and his life from the pathway to Sheol.

With suffering, too, he corrects man on his sick-bed,

when his bones keep trembling with palsy;

when his whole self is revolted by food,

and his appetite spurns dainties;

when his flesh rots as you watch it,

and his bare bones begin to show;

when his soul is drawing near to the pit,

and his life to the dwelling of the dead.

Responsory

℟. How rich are the depths of God,

how deep his wisdom and knowledge,

* how inscrutable are his judgements!

℣. Who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counsellor?

* How inscrutable are his judgements!

Second Reading

From the Acts of the martyrdom of Saint Justin and his companion saints

I have accepted the true doctrines of the Christians

The saints were seized and brought before the prefect of Rome, whose name was Rusticus. As they stood before the judgement seat, Rusticus the prefect said to Justin:

“Above all, have faith in the gods and obey the emperors.” Justin said:

“We cannot be accused or condemned for obeying the commands of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Rusticus said: “What system of teaching do you profess?” Justin said:

“I have tried to learn about every system, but I have accepted the true doctrines of the Christians,

though these are not approved by those who are held fast by error.”

The prefect Rusticus said: “Are those doctrines approved by you, wretch that you are?” Justin said:

“Yes, for I follow them with their correct teaching.”

The prefect Rusticus said: “What sort of teaching is that?” Justin said: “Worship the God of the Christians. We hold him to be from the beginning the one creator and maker of the whole creation, of things seen and things unseen. We worship also the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was foretold by the prophets as the future herald of salvation for the human race and the teacher of distinguished disciples. For myself, since I am a human being, I consider that what I say is insignificant in comparison with his infinite godhead. I acknowledge the existence of a prophetic power, for the one I have just spoken of as the Son of God was the subject of prophecy. I know that the prophets were inspired from above when they spoke of his coming among men.”

The prefect said to Justin: “You are called a learned man and think that you know what is true teaching. Listen: if you were scourged and beheaded, are you convinced that you would go up to heaven?” Justin said: “I hope that I shall enter God’s house if I suffer that way. For I know that God’s favor is stored up until the end of the whole world for all who have lived good lives.”

The prefect Rusticus said: “Do you have an idea that you will go up to heaven to receive some suitable rewards?” Justin said: “It is not an idea that I have;

it is something I know well and hold to be most certain.”

The prefect Rusticus said: “Now let us come to the point at issue, which is necessary and urgent. Gather round then and with one accord offer sacrifice to the gods.” Justin said:

“No one who is right thinking stoops from true worship to false worship.”

The prefect Rusticus said: “If you do not do as you are commanded you will be tortured without mercy.” Justin said: “We hope to suffer torment for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, and so be saved.

For this will bring us salvation and confidence as we stand before the more terrible and universal judgement-seat of our Lord and Savior.”

In the same way the other martyrs also said:

“Do what you will. We are Christians; we do not offer sacrifice to idols.”

The prefect Rusticus pronounced sentence, saying: “Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to obey the command of the emperor be scourged and led away to suffer capital punishment according to the ruling of the laws.” Glorifying God, the holy martyrs went out to the accustomed place. They were beheaded, and so fulfilled their witness of martyrdom in confessing their faith in their Savior.